#evidence one: he can see auras evidence two: he saw mob’s memories and mob knew by then Reigen has no powers

[mitsybubbles]

I’m like 80% sure now that Serizawa just deadass thinks Reigen genuinely believes he is an esper despite not having powers and Seri is too polite to say anything about it

[silvensei]

Next installment of @silvervictory‘s fun AU in fic form! Shout out to her for the AU, of course, but also for the doodles and talking me out of filling this dialogue with radical Nineties lingo~

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

Words: 2k

By the time they got to the office, Ritsu was beginning to regret his decision to let the entity stay in control; having Mob in a coma would have been inconvenient, but it wouldn’t have been so god damn obnoxious.

Dimple had to nudge him into motion after his brother’s body had spat out a few more expletives and telekinetically hurled the offending chunk of concrete to the next town. When the form started walking down the sidewalk, it still did look like his brother. After a moment, though, Ritsu realized it was too stiff. Mob was composed and proper in his posture, yes, but this being kept its back straight, its knees locked, and its fingers splayed. Each step seemed deliberate, yet together they lacked rhythm.

Ritsu caught up easily, walking next to it, just out of arm’s reach. “Um…. You haven’t hurt my brother’s body already…have you?” he asked, hoping the naggings of worry weren’t obvious.

“Shut up,” it snapped. His brother’s mouth twisted into a scowl the teen hadn’t ever imagined seeing on Mob’s face. “I haven’t had to move on a physical plane in a while. Yeesh, give a god a break, why dontcha?”

Well now, Ritsu knew for a fact that wasn’t true. “But you’ve been on this ‘physical plane’ before. I’ve seen you take over Shigeo. Just a few months ago, too, at Black Vinegar.”

“Arguing with half the facts again already, kid? It’s not like I’d show up for a stroll through the park. Those were all a psychic show; no tedious movement involved.” It stopped, rolling its eyes and wrinkling its nose. “Right. Fuck it. That’s enough ‘human’ for now.”

The kaleidoscope of an aura folded out around his brother’s frame. Expecting the brightness of Mob’s blues, Ritsu shied away when it instead appeared as dark as charcoal. It didn’t capture the light to create the void from his nightmares, but it did pulse and roil with hidden energy. That’s not what his brother’s aura should look like.

It smirked at his discomfort. “Walking’s dumb. You just keep catching yourself before completely falling over. Too complicated.” It rested its chin in its hand as it crossed its legs, bobbing suspended in midair. “Why walk when you can fly?”

Ritsu sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why walk,” he grumbled. “Because! Most people, I’ll have you know, can’t fly. It’s normal to walk.” He swept a hand at the ground between them. “For example, a sidewalk. So please, if you’re going to try to be human, just walk normally. We don’t have far to go.”

It raised his brother’s eyebrows beneath his hair. “Being human is acting normally?” it asked, incredulous. “Then, if using psychic powers isn’t normal….” It pointed at its face, aghast. “Are you saying your brother isn’t human? Oh, for shame!”

It turned and floated down the street, shaking its head as it left Ritsu sputtering for a response in its wake. “Wha— no! You know damn well what I meant! Don’t twist my words like that!” he shouted after it. “The hell is this guy’s problem, Dimple?”

Met with silence, he realized the ghost had saved his own (lack of) skin and slipped away while they were distracted. “Lucky bastard,” Ritsu hissed before he trudged after his pseudo-brother.

“See, Ritsu? You’re so slow, stuck to that ground of yours.” It uncrossed his brother’s legs, letting them sway a few inches above the concrete, hands nestled in its pockets. Mob’s schoolbag drifted lazily behind it. “You people must’ve known that, inventing airplanes and whatnot. Why don’t you get some kind of personal airplane? Some kind of normal, non-psychic way to fly?”

“It’s not that easy,” the teen said. He stared ahead, refusing to look at it.

“Ah yes, the folly of technology. Then what about bicycles, hm? Those are easy. Why not bike everywhere? Or even those dumb shoes with the wheels? Why condemn yourself to such a pitiful mode of physical displacement?”

Ritsu shot it a glare. It didn’t actually look as demeaning as he had pictured, but that smirk still meant it knew he was getting more annoyed by the second. “If I answer you, will you answer me?” he tested.

“Tch.”

He took that as a “no.” Worth a shot, at least. Maybe now it would give him some peace to sort out his increasing anxiety.

“Ritsu, walking’s too slow. Lemme float you there if you’re not gonna do it yourself.”

“No!” he snapped. When memory reminded him what happened last time he pissed off the entity, though, he paused and swallowed. “No, Animosity, I’m walking.”

Fortunately, the alleged all-powerful irate god merely sniggered and crossed its arms behind its head. The being that replaces his brother unannounced, that has haunted him for years, floating by his side like a ticking time bomb. If only he could run like Dimple had.

God, how he wished Dimple were here.

“Does he keep his hair like this because it floats so well with psychic energy?” it asked after a minute. His brother’s hair glided around its head, swimming through the air like it were water. It usually glimmered like water, too, when Mob used his normal aquamarine powers; now it appeared as sharp smog, dark grays flipping and turning around a cross-eyed fourteen-year-old body, blowing at its bangs.

Such a polluted image made him sick. Just ignore it, Ritsu, and it’ll entertain itself.

“Hands are weird, y’know? It’s like your arm was flattened with little arms stuck to the end. What kind of factory mutation was that, ya think?”

“Man, it’s a good thing this body’s so supernaturally charged, because it’s like a two in the natural energy department. Seriously, how the hell did I even walk that first two minutes? No wonder he’s such a bore: It’s too strenuous to emote.”

“Since human bodies naturally absorb energy through the intake of physical matter, do you think Shigeo’s body would be even more enhanced if it absorbs spirits? Like, I’d keep ‘em tangible long enough to digest, and then when I let go, would it turn into pure energy? Fuck energy drinks, then, just be an exorcist. Or would the spirit reform and possess me? Well, not me, of course, but like some other human body, like yours. Hey, wanna give it a try? I can go hunt down that green prick of a ghost for ya.”

Ritsu almost threw himself through Reigen’s door, he was already so tired of this shit.

Reigen almost threw himself through his door, he was so tired of this boredom.

He stifled another yawn. No one had come in today. Not a soul—not counting the spirit that stopped by once to nag him per usual. He could only keep himself entertain in his office for so long. And now to make it worse, Mob just happened to be late, on today of all days. He didn’t want to worry about it. Nope. He wasn’t worried. It was just that based on statistical evidence, Mob was a punctual kid, and so when he didn’t show up on time, it often meant something was wrong. It was only logical to be a little concerned about an uncommon occurrence such as this. But then again, his club probably ran long. Maybe he passed out again. It’s fine.

Though maybe he should call him just in case….

The sudden commotion outside made him jump in his chair before he quickly composed himself. Straightening his posture, he adjusted his laptop screen and watched as the door was slammed open. He quirked an eyebrow, ready to admonish Mob for the oddly reckless behavior, but he merely nodded when he saw Ritsu standing there. Jeez, what did he do to bother the kid this time? He only just got here.

“Take it,” he declared. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

“It?” asked a familiar voice. A black-haired head appeared behind the teen, which relieved Reigen’s worries in an instant—until he noticed the strange grin that accompanied his words. “That’s a bit insensitive, dontcha think?”

Even though Ritsu tried to keep his expression neutral, the con man could see it darken as he moved further into the room. “Not like you deserve anything more,” he heard him mutter.

Mob cocked a hip. Has that Hanazawa kid been rubbing off on him…? “We’ll see about that, cupcake,” he said. “True, gender and gendered pronouns are such a human thing, but ‘it’ sounds so rude. Might as well be a ‘he’ in a male body, eh?”

Reigen felt his face heat up. Was that what’s going on? Was he really supposed to have this talk with these middle schoolers? Now? Didn’t these children have an actual father to talk to? He took a breath and folded his hands before telling the younger brother, “I can understand your confusion, Ritsu. I wouldn’t have pegged Mob for the type either. But what’s important is that you’re still the same old siblings, and you should respect them for the person they want to be.”

Ritsu rubbed his eyes. He started to snap back, but he was interrupted by a laugh. A brash, loud laugh from the doorway, that Reigen had never dreamed would come from Mob’s mouth. “Oh, you’re so fucking clueless!” he shouted. Reigen couldn’t even react to the uncharacteristic language before the boy was suddenly in front of him. “That’s cute, Arataka.”

“Whoa—okay!” He jolted back so fast he almost fell out of his chair. “That’s, uh— my given name? Well, never knew you could teleport, Mob! No excuse for being late, now, is there?”

“Ah hah! Yeah, no, Mob can’t do that yet.”

He raised an eyebrow. This kid leaning on his desk with that smirk on his face…were his eyes red? “Mob…? Are you alright?”

“Yeah, Mob’s fine.”

“Eh, good?” When he was met with a grinning silence instead of an explanation, the man added, “Reigen is confused and feels like he’s missing something.”

“That’s not my brother,” said Ritsu. He stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, eyes burning holes through the head between them. “This asshole took him over and refuses not to give cryptic answers.”

Mob sneered. “Don’t you ever wonder why this kid is such a stick in the mud?” he asked, pushing himself off the desk to put his hands on his hips. “He’s trying to keep me away. Emotions are powerful things, after all: Hate breeds more hate and ignites wars and death. Love can drive a man mad. So when you got a god on your side, it’s hard not to just give in to that power time and again.”

Ritsu’s eyes were hidden by his bangs, but Reigen could see his fists trembling. “That’s it. I’m going home. Reigen, you god damn fraud, you better care enough about my brother to make sure it gets home intact.”

With that, the door slammed shut, and the two of them were left alone.

“Callin’ me ‘it’ again,” Mob huffed. “Like I’m some thing. I’m better than a thing.”

Well, at the very least, his day wouldn’t be boring anymore.